Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-05-05
A GORGEOUS PALACE.

A GORGEOUS PALACE.
Description Of the Ch.rnias Mango Car.
dens Of the King Of siam.
The Summer Palace of the King, tha
Mango Gardens, is considered the
handsomest place in Siam. The main
building is erected in the style of .
French chateau. and is surrounded
with grounds laid off with great skill
by landscape gardener. paths wing
ing in serpentine sinuosity in every
direction. flowers of all kinds fill the
air with rarest perfume. and to add to
the charms of the place miniature lakes,
dotted over with lotus plants in bios
som. flash their sparkling waters in the
sunshine.
These lakes are fed from the river
that flows in front of the palace. which.
together with the yard. Is inclosed by
a wall containing a number of hand
some buildings set apart for the various
wives of the King. Through the kind
ness of the gardener in charge 1 was
shown through the palace, the King
being absent he not staying there
more than month during the year.
The palace is built of teak and other
costly woods, the walls paneled most
handsomely; the hard wood polished
like mirror, bringing out the grain;
the ceiling lofty. laid off in handsome
designs and most deliberately gilded;
the floors mosaic Of various woods,
also highly polished. each room diff
ferent design, while the broad fight
of steps that leads to the second story
the sleeping apartments-is simply
grand. in keeping with the magnif-
cence of the interior.
The Kings chamber, bathrooms,
etc.. were worthy of the abode of roy
atty. and his couch ''thing Of beau
ty," if not "a joy forever" 1t was made
Of rare wood and carved in the most
exquisite designs, draped with rare lace
fringed with gold; a gold embroidered
spread covered the bed; the pillows
and holsters were also hemmed with
lace. and above it swung handsome
punka to keep him cool. 1t seemed
more like work of art to please the
eye than the resting place of one who
courted slumber. surcease of business
and trouble arising from the control
of over 1000, 600 people.
In some of the rooms we noticed
some very handsome furniture and
pictures. costly tables, crystal and
alabaster vases, ETC.. though the place
was dismantled during the absence of
royalty. 1t is place that one tired of
power and the world would retire to for
month and live in elysium or Oriental
ease. In the center of several of the
lakes handsome pavilions are erected,
where the band discourses music, and
on their ripping surface float barges
ready to bear the wives and children or
family of the King. when he concludes
to pass his time there.
Scattered throughout the gardens
arc cages containing monkeys, birds,
ETC.. that add not little to the pict-
uresqueness of the scene. For over an
hour our party strolled through the
well-kept grounds and gardens. fifty
men being constantly employed in
identifying and keeping them in Or
der. Amid a grove of rarest foliage.
musical with birds. is a handsome
Italian monument, erected to the menu
DRY of the late Queen. who was
drowned by the sinking Of yacht.
erected by the King. and by his special
direction kept in the neatest order.
AS our time was limited we could |
see but portion of the beauties of this |
lovely place. 1t would take a column |
to speak at length of the various
palaces that are scattered over the |
grounds, the Oriental watch and bell
tower that stands like a giant sentinel
towering over all, the handsome wat,
built like Gothic cathedral, stained
glass windows, but the shrill whistle of
our steam launch reminds us that
''time is up" and. with a sigh of re-
greet. our party left the lovely Mango
Gardens, its world of flowers, its fra
grant atmosphere and paradisical
beauty-an elysium where one could
dream life away, the Nepenthe of the
poet, where no raven will ever ''sit on
the pallid bust of Pallas," but eternal
sunshine gilds the velvet curtains and
casts glory on the glistening floors
Siam Cor. st. Louis Republican.